Project: The Mini-Smokehouse

For years, I have joked with my friends that I would never consider myself successful until I owned a barbeque pit that had a trailer hitch and turn signals. Anything made by Klose will do. (Check out the Paul Kirk model!).

Prior to Hurricane Katrina, I owned a small log-burner that served me well (pictured left, R.I.P. old friend). I kept a good stash of wood (oak, hickory, pecan, persimmon, and fig) and barbequed often. A week in Katrina's salty floodwaters ruined my pit and, to date, I have not replaced it. Someday I will do so.

In the meantime, I have been using a Weber Kettle as a grill, but have been limited in my ability to smoke. I got the idea of builing a small smokehouse that uses the Weber as the "firebox". It will be much easier to explain by taking a few pictures, but suffice it to say that I had a metal shop make a tray that will fit the Weber in place of the lid. I will need to build a small box on top of the tray. I intend to use it this Fall to smoke sausage and bacon. I better get to work finding some more wood to cure.

David